Five-in-a-row hero Michael Darragh Macauley left the field ‘dazed’ but satisfied as Ballyboden St Enda’s regained the Dublin SFC title.
The Dublin midfielder was replaced with 10 minutes to go after suffering a ‘bad bang’ and concussion.
Boss Anthony Rainbow said the midfielder was ‘still a bit dazed’ afterwards though he posed for selfies and signed autographs with fans after their fourth success.
Defender Robbie McDaid needed a couple of stitches for a gash on his face too – two incidents that summed up a blood and thunder afternoon.
Thomas Davis, appearing in their first final since 1991, laid down some big hits as they sought a famous win.
But they were ultimately undone by the ability and quality of a Ballyboden side that won the All-Ireland back in 2016.
Like McDaid, the Basquel brothers, Colm and Ryan, played for Dublin in this year’s League and were instrumental in the success in front of 5,183.
They contributed nine points between them with Ryan claiming a half a dozen while All-Ireland U-20 finalist Ross McGarry struck 0-4.
There was just three points in it with 18 minutes to go when ‘Boden moved up a gear and picked off a series of scores from the Basquels and McGarry to seal victory.
Boss and ex-Kildare All-Star Rainbow praised his finishers and said: “Ross McGarry was incredible. If you look at our forward line, people often look at the likes of Collie Basquel and Ryan Basquel there.
"A lot of people seem to just hone in on those two all the time but we’ve also got Warren Egan, Ross, Alan Flood who came on and scored, Sean Gibbons, Darren O’Reilly.
"They’re all scoring threats and not only that but when we don’t have the ball their work-rate is very, very high. That all went into the mix for us out there.”
The Firhouse Road side have little time to celebrate as they must return to Leinster club action next Sunday, against Louth’s Newtown Blues in Drogheda.
Ballyboden led their southside neighbours 0-7 to 0-2 at the break with Thomas Davis, appearing in a first final since 1991, scoring just a point from play in the half hour.
But they are also the ultimate battlers, winning the SFC 2 championship in Dublin last year after being effectively relegated from the top tier in a restructure.
And Thomas Davis cut the gap to just three with a third quarter resurgence.
Free-taker Eoin Kirby, ex-Banner forward McGrath and Keogh all pointed in that period to leave ‘Boden only 0-8 to 0-5 ahead.
But Rainbow’s ‘Boden dug deepest from there on and Mc- Garry kicked two excellent scores before the Basquel brothers got in on the act.
Ballyboden: D Gogan; B Dwan, S Clayton, C Flaherty; D nelson, R McDaid, a Waters; MD Macauley, D O’Mahony (0-1); S Gibbons, C Basquel (0-3, 2f), D O’Reilly; W egan, R Basquel (0-6, 3f), R McGarry (0-4).
Subs: a Flood (0-1) for Gibbons h/t, T Hayes for egan 48, B Bobbett for Macauley 50, K Kennedy for McDaid 40-45, Kennedy for Dwan 57, J holland for nelson 58, C Keaney for O’Reilly 60.
Thomas Davis: R Crilly; a Shorten, P Quinn, B Kirby; a Fallon, C Murphy, S Kennedy; B Kirby, O Kelly; R Deegan (0-1, 1f), e Kirby (0-4, 4f), D Keogh (0-2); S McGrath (0-1), C Farrelly, e Lambert.
Subs: E O’Toole (0-1) for Kelly 8, S Reilly for Lambert h/t, Lambert for B Kirby 55, M nolan for McGrath 55.
Referee: J Higgins (na Fianna).
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